Collapsible crate



L. E. LARSON.

COLLAPSIBLE CRATE- APPHCATION FILED APR.18, 1919.

1 .38-: .,6 1 6. 1 4 Patented July 12, 1921.

WITNESS: g m uwsurox. WJM LudwrggE.La/rsow ATTORNEY.

UNETED STATES LUDWIG E. LARSON, OF WILLOW GROVE, PENNSYLVANIA.

COLLAPSIBLE CRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jui 12, 1921.

Application filed April 18, 1919. Serial No. 291,102.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, LUDWIG E. LARSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Willow Grove, in the county of Montgonr cry and State of Pennsylvania, have in vented new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Crates, ofwhich the following is a specification;

This invention relates to crates and more particularly to that type known as collapsible crates which are especially applicable for the conveying of poultry, eggs and the like, said crates being readily adapted when not in use, to be easily knocked-down for storage or return shipment.

The main object of the invention is to provide a collapsible crate, the several parts whereof, are so connected together for the purpose of preventing the loss of any portion of the same when collapsed, and also for aiding in the speedy setting-up of the crate into operative position when desired.

A further object of this invention is to provide a-crate of the nature specified, with a novel means for locking the several parts in operative position so that said crate when set up is rigid and secure for shipment.

With these and other objects in view as will be hereinafter more apparent, the invention consists essentially in the novel manner of hinging the top and opposed end and side members to the bottom, as well as the particular means disclosed for locking the several parts in operative position.

In the further disclosure of the invention, reference is to be had to the accompanying sheet of explanatory drawings, constituting a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference denote the same or corresponding parts in all the views, and in which,-

Figure 1 is a perspective of a collapsible crate made in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same drawn to an enlarged scale and with parts broken away or in section, to disclose the underlying structure.

Fig. 3 is a side view showing the crate in collapsed position or ready for shipment and when not in use or set up.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 44 in Fig. 1, and disclosing on an enlarged scale the method of hinging the top to the end sections; and- Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail of the means for locking the top to the side sections when the crate is set up.

Referring to-the drawings, the numeral 10 designates the bottom of the crate which is built up of spaced side members 11, connected together by transverse'slats 12, rabeted thereinto and end members 13 which are of a thickness and heightgreater than that of the side members 11. 1

Hinged to'the side memberslh-by hinges 14, are the side sections 15, similarly built to the bottom and including spaced slats 16.

The end sections 17 are formed as clescrlbed in connection with the bottom 10 and sides 15, and they are hinged by hinges 18, to the upper edge of the end members 18.

The top section 19, includes a rectangular frame provided with rabbeted slats 20, and it has pivoted to its four upper corners at 21, links 22, which are provided with longitudinal slots 23, at or near their lower ends through which project the threaded ends of bolts 21, fitted securely in the side members 25, of the end sections 17, and said bolts are provided with winged nuts 26, for the purpose hereafter explained.

Each side and end section 15, 17, is provided on its upper edge with dowel pins or sintles 27, which are adapted to fit into registering holes 28, provided for their reception in the underside of the rectangular frame of the top section or cover 19.

rissuming the crate is in the knocked-down or collapsed position shown in Fig. 3, and it is desired to set same up, the user first of all slackens the winged nuts 26, then takes hold of the top section 19, and draws same upward to the position indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, whereupon the end sections 17, are folded up to the vertical position, and the side sections 15, are similarly turned to the vertical, whereupon the top section 19, is lowered into contact therewith, the dowels 27 taking into the holes 28, and maintaining the sides and ends in rigid relation with the top. The winged nuts 26, are now tightened up and the crate is ready for use. Obviously a reversal of the operation just described, will effect the speedy collapsing of the crate to and the fastening of the same in the position shown in Fig. 8, ready for return shipment.

A suitable door or the like may be fitted where desired and is not shown as it forms no part of the invention.

From the foregoing it will be readily understood that by my invention, I provide a simple, cheap and durable construction of collapsible crate possessing the great advan tage of having all the parts connected together at all times, when in or out of use; and while I have particularly described one preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that changes may be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope whereof is particularly defined by the appended claim. I

sections hinged to the bottom sectionv and having dowel pins projecting upwardly from their upper edges, inwardly-foldable end sections hinged to said raised end portions and having dowel pins projecting upwardly from their upper edges, a top section with sockets in its underside to receive said dowel pins, links pivoted at one end to the side edges of the top section near the corners thereof and having longitudinal slots adjacent to their opposite ends, threaded pins extending from points midway the length of the ends of the end sections and also extending through said slots, and nuts on the threaded portions of said pins and at the outer side of said links.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

LUDWVIG E. LARSON. 

